Paramus, N.J. - Stockton University has signed a dual admission and transfer partnership agreement with Bergen Community College that will help students make a smooth transition from the two-year college to Stockton’s bachelor’s degree program.

The five-year agreement strengthens the relationship between Stockton and Bergen Community College by offering multiple opportunities for students to seamlessly pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees at the two institutions of higher education.

“It remains critically important to provide pathways for Bergen Community College students, who seek to further their learning and expand their professional prospects,” President Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., said. “When we have an opportunity to strengthen our pathways with one of the state’s great public institutions in Stockton University, it’s a win for our students, our community and New Jersey.”

Stockton President Harvey Kesselman said the agreement will give students access to Stockton University services while they attend Bergen Community College, and provide a smooth pathway to Stockton as juniors after they earn their associate degree.

 “More than 220 students from Bergen County already attend Stockton,” Kesselman said. “We look forward to welcoming even more students through this partnership. They can start their education at Bergen Community College with the confidence of knowing they are on the path to a four-year college degree.”

Stockton now has Transfer Pathways agreements with 11 of the state’s 18 community colleges, offering thousands of students an affordable path to a four-year college degree.

Stockton Chief Enrollment Management Officer Robert Heinrich said the Transfer Pathways program gives students dual admission options, including access to Stockton University services while they attend Bergen Community College.

 “If a student applies to Stockton but is not initially accepted as a freshman, they can start at Bergen Community College knowing that they also still have a relationship with Stockton through the Transfer Pathways program,” Heinrich said.

 The terms of the agreement include:

• Students who are denied direct admission to Stockton can receive conditional dual admission in partnership with Bergen Community College. Students will attend classes at Bergen Community but have access to campus housing, activities and student groups at Stockton and receive a special Stockton Identification card through Stockton’s Transfer Pathways program.
• Students who successfully complete their associate degree at Bergen Community College can automatically transfer to Stockton with junior standing to complete their bachelor’s degree. Application fees to Stockton will be waived for eligible students.
• Students who complete at least 30 credits at Bergen Community College, and a total of 60 credits between the county college and the four-year institution, are eligible to receive a retroactive associate degree from Bergen Community College. Stockton and Bergen Community College will co-host “reverse transfer” information sessions for students.
• Stockton and Bergen Community College will develop specific program-to-program articulation agreements for high-demand majors to facilitate the quality and ease of transfer.
• Students will receive joint advising from Stockton and Bergen Community College and a Stockton advisor will have office space and a regular schedule at Bergen Community.
• Students will be eligible for financial aid from whichever institution they are attending. Stockton will provide five one-year scholarships of $2,000 per year to Bergen Community College graduates whose admission to Stockton is covered by the agreement.
• Stockton and Bergen Community College will establish an advisory committee to ensure best practices in recruitment, enrollment management, academic and student services, information technology, marketing and facilities use.

Stockton already has similar agreements with Atlantic Cape Community College, Brookdale Community College, Camden County College, Mercer County Community College, Middlesex College, County College of Morris, Ocean County College, Rowan College of South Jersey, Rowan College at Burlington County, and Salem Community College and is pursuing additional partnerships with other community colleges in the state.

More information about Bergen Community College is at Bergen.edu.

More information about Stockton Transfer Pathways partnerships can be found at stockton.edu/admissions/pathways.

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Contact:
Diane D’Amico
Director of News and Media Relations
Galloway, N.J. 08205
Diane.D’Amico@stockton.edu
609-652-4593
609-412-8069
stockton.edu/media